Travelers heading home for holidays pack airports, interstates

Wrecks reported on roads; Delays at airports

Published 1:51 PM CST Dec 21, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. -

This holiday season is expected to be the busiest in six years, according to AAA.

That means airports and roadways will be crowded this weekend. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is beefing up patrols Friday night through New Year's. Already, wrecks have been reported on area interstates.

MHP responded about 11 a.m. Friday to a crash on Interstate 20 westbound near Edwards that involved two vehicles.

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Two women were injured and taken to local hospitals. A witness said they were alert and awake when they were loaded into ambulances.

"We were all driving with, I thought, a good speed in between us. But accidents happen and this was one of those days. I hope it doesn't ruin their Christmas," said Christina Hodge, of Springfield, Va., who was traveling in Mississippi for the holidays.

One man suffered life-threatening injuries in a rollover crash Friday on Highway 43, just outside of Pelahatchie, MHP said. The man was initially taken to River Oaks Hospital, but when his condition worsened, he was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, MHP said. The man's name has not been released.

At the Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, weather was on the mind of many travelers, as some were already experiencing snow delays.

"My flight was delayed here, so my connected flight -- I don't know if I'm going to make it or not," said Nichole Schultz, a Mississippi Americorps worker who was traveling home to Kansas.

AAA said because flights are heavily booked, there will likely be more travelers on the road.

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